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Can you clarify what you mean by "I've done extensive
teaching in the past few years"? I'm puzzled by this
comment while elsewhere in your post you say you are
looking for "a way to become a school admin without having
to work as a teacher for several years". Perhaps the
experience you already have will help, but it depends on
what it is. Your comment that you are "not so keen on day-
to-day teaching" is a red flag to me. What is it about day-
to-day teaching that you're "not keen" on? It's hard to
imagine that you'd like administration better, if you do
not like teaching. It's also going to be (much) more
difficult for you to be an effective instructional leader
if you do not like teaching, or have no teaching
experience.
It's possible to become an admin without teaching
experience (I know a few who have; they had experience in
other areas of education instead), but it will put you at a
disadvantage in your job search, since most other
candidates will have teaching experience. In some
districts you will not be considered at all. If you are
hired, you will also most likely have a bit (or a lot) less
credibility with the teachers at your site if you have not
been in their shoes.
As for "working as a low-level admin and then working your
way up," this too depends on the district. You may find
that you are hired for a low-level position but unable to
move up as far as you want to due to your lack of teaching
experience.

On 10/15/15, Gaby wrote:
> I'm in college and looking to become a school
> administrator
> (specifically, a high school principal). Based on some
> preliminary web
> searching, it looks like the standard route into school
> administration is:
> bachelor's degree -> teaching licensure -> teaching
> experience ->
> master's in school administration -> administration
> licensure. However,
> I've done extensive teaching in the past few years,
> and though I want
> to engage closely with students and teachers in my
> career, I'm not so
> keen on day-to-day teaching. Is there a way for me to
> become a school
> admin without having to work as a teacher for several
> years? Could I
> start working as a low-level admin out of college or
> grad school and
> then work my way up?
>
> Thanks!

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